Alexander Arzoumanian, the former foreign affairs minister of Armenia and the co-founder of the “Qaxaqatsiakan Anhnazandutjuan” (Citizens’ Resistance) political movement, who was arrested on May 8 and later received a two-month long preliminary incarceration (until the results of the final investigation become available and the ultimate punishment is determined), appealed to the European Court of Human Rights on May 31, reported A1Plus information agency. In his appeal, according to the news source, Arzoumanian maintained his innocence and stated that his rights to freedom, immunity and freedom of expression, which are laid out in Articles five and 10 of the Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms had been violated. As stated in the documents of the National Security Services, who raided Arzoumanian’s apartment on May 8, the former foreign minister was accused of money laundering.

Arzoumanyan’s lawyer Hovik Arsenian, as well as numerous prominent political figures in Armenia, have made public announcements denouncing the foreign minister’s arrest as one carried out on bogus accusations and as being politically motivated, since it occurred only a few days prior to Armenia’s May 12 parliamentary elections.

This information was originally published May 31 and May 8, 2007 (www.a1plus.am)